Kenny Barron’s trio of Kiyoshi Kitagawa/b and Johnathan Blake/dr has been together for ten years, but the legendary pianist took until now to finally record everyone together. This Monday night at The Lobero, Barron’s lyrical touch lead the team through a 2+hour evening of music made the appreciative audience why he took so long.
Barron and company displayed the width, depth, height and range that a flexible trio can perform as they mixed various genres through the jazz blender. A fun and quirky dose of Thelonious Monk’s “Shuffle Boil” was joyfully kinetic, while a read of “Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise” was served, as Barron joked, “Not too softly” as Kitagawa’s pulsating bass and Blake’s conversant drum solo drove the barometric pressure to high levels.
Barron also displayed his more reflective side, with a delicate and spacious “Night Fall” that sparkled with melancholy while Kitagawa’s pizzicato bass sparkled like evening stars. The butanes were on a high level for the Caribbean “Calypso” as Blake turned his drum kit into a street dance while the sensuous samba “Magic Dance” had Barron forming one volcanic solo after another, each one so lyrical as a song unto itself.
In the spirit of improvisation, Barron had the band try out an interpretation of Gal Costa’s “Aquele Frevo Axe’” which showed the value of trust and symbiosis in a long time musical relationship. Going back to his roots, Barron gave tribute to bebop pioneer Bud Powell as the fellow Philly Cat delivered quotes from the pioneer while Blake’s hummingbird attack on the ride cymbal mixed Afro Cuban grooves with irresistible modern pulse.
Barron’s mix of melody, lyricism and rhythm is a rare treat during this musical era of Sturm and Drang.
Upcoming shows at the Lobero include the Preservation Hall Jazz Band June 10. Also, coming this wall The Lobero is featuring an impressive series of guitar players, including Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz and the LA Guitar Quartet.